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Implants Look Different, Can It Be Fixed?

asked 10 months ago by bren1674 in Nashville, TN
Latest answer by Thomas B. Lintner, MD
Question viewed 698 times
Tags: drop, pocket, revision, tightness

I had a breast lift with saline implants placed under the muscle on 2/25/11.The left side has dropped and is perfect but the right side has always been high and a little tight on the bottom.About 12 wks after the surgery my PS started pressing on the implant to break scar tissue up.The implant has dropped a lot however the breast still looks stange compared to the left.My PS says surgery won't fix this and may make it look worse.Is this something that can be fixed with a pocket revision?

18 answers to Implants Look Different, Can It Be Fixed?

Surgery can improve asymmetry after breast lift/mastopexy

No two breasts are exactly alike, with or without surgery. However, when there is a significant difference between the position of the breast implants on each side, additional surgery can often make an improvement. I would generally recommend waiting six months after surgery, but at that point, if the difference in the position bothers you more than the idea of having another surgery, and if the implants appear to have stopped settling, it may be time for a revision. more

James Nachbar, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

Asymetric breasts

Your pre-op pics show marked difference with your right breast having less tissue. Without examining you or knowing a little more information it's hard to determine exactly what is going on but just based on your pics I would have suggested a full lift with silicone implants vs saline. You may have early onset capsular contracture on the right but it may just be a function of skin vs the left breast. I don't think just a pocket revision would correct all your concerns. Best of luck. more

Thomas B. Lintner, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Asymmetry after breast implants,can it be fixed?

Asymmetry of breasts is quite common. You have different size breasts with different shapes to start with. Postoperatively there is a siginificant difference between the 2 breasts. This should be able to be improved with surgery. The 2 breasts will never look exactly the same but they can be made to look much more similar. You should consult with your surgeon and see what he has to say. If he is uncomfortable in proceeeding with surgery you should seek a second consult. Good luck! more

George Lefkovits, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implant Asymmetry

Hello Bren, You have capsular contracture, that is why your surgeon began pressing on it a few months ago. This technique of pressing, better known as closed capsulotomy is not recommended for many reasons, most importantly lack of efficacy. In other words, the contracture usually comes back, as it did for you. A surgical procedure called a total open capsulectomy should be performed along with placement of a new implant to treat the problem completely and minimize... more

Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Breast Asymmetry After Surgery

It is possible to do a pocket revision to assist in improving the symmetry of the two breasts. One has to be very careful with the pocket dissection to prevent other issues (such as double bubble) so choose your surgeon wisely. No surgeon can ever guarantee perfection or have both breasts be identical - every patient is different in their starting point and how their body heals but I think your situation can be improved with revisionary breast surgery.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Breast augmentation revision

There is insufficient information in your post to really answer your question. Your posted photos support your concerns regarding the right side. Since you are happy with the "perfect" left side the question really is how to make the right more like the left. It is clear that can only be achieved by surgery but it is not clear what the surgery exactly should be. Since the breasts were asymmetrical before surgery it is impossible to make them exactly symmetric after surgery.... more

Aaron Stone, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Asymmetry of Implants

Based on your pictures, you likely have a component of capsular contracture which likely require surgery to improve. However, I do not think that this is the only issue with your breasts. Based on your pre-op pictures and the post op pictures, it appears that you would have been better served with implant size and base diameter (width) which would more appropriate fit your anatomy. This can likely be significantly improved with revision surgery. Good Luck. more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Revision agfter breast augmentation

Revision is definitely indicated and you can and should expect a much better and more natural result. Your skin envelopes are asymmetric, suggesting the need for more aggressive tailoring of the skin (read: lift; mastopexy). I would certainly recommend exchanging the saline implants: gel implants are softer, more natural, more comfortable, and longer lasting. If your original surgeon is unwilling to do this (why?) seek a few opinions from board certified... more

Daniel Greenwald, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Implants Look Different, Can It Be Fixed?

Thanks for the photos posted. Yes they can be revised in a surgery, now. Over the internet I see multiple issues with your result. Best to obtain in person opinions from boarded surgeons in your area, like Drs Jack Fisher or Pat Maxwell.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Breast asymmetries following a breast augmentation

There are several issues which have combined to give you the present result. First of all, you were both asymmetical and drooping prior to surgery with the left side lower than the right. These haven't been adequately corrected with surgery which apparently involved a peri-areolar mastopexy. A full (anchor shaped) approach would have provided you with a better shape, improved nipple size and position and greater symmetry. It also appears that your right breast implant is too high and... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Postoperative questions after breast lift/augmentation

In this photograph, the right implant is too high and the most likely reason is scar tissue formation around the implant (capsule). Releasing the capsule would improve the appearance. Also, the nipple position is asymmetric and should be corrected at the same time.

Elizabeth S. Harris, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

Unilateral capsulotomy may improve assymmetry after breast augmentation

Judging from the pictures submitted (and obviously not from a formal consultation and examination), your right implant appears to be significantly higher than the left. A capsulotomy may be performed under local anesthesia in the office, under sterile conditions. This is not a major procedure and has a significant chance of lowering the implant on the right and giving improved symmetry. Your nipples are now higher than prior to surgery; depending on your preferences, further elevation or... more

Steven Goldman, MD
Cleveland Plastic Surgeon

www.drgoldman.com

Breast asymmetry

Your breasts were quite different to begin with at least from the photos. The right is smaller and narrower, which by yoru post-ops makes sense that it has not come down as much as the left. A revison may be necessary, but an exam is helpful. Remember, they will never be exactly the same.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Implants Are Too Large But Fixable

Your implants appear to be significantly larger than your pre-op breast width which greatly increases the chance for problems. It still should be correctable by opening the inferior portion of the right sided capsule and then wearing a device which presses the implant from above.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Breast asymmetry management

Looking at your pre-surgery pictures, your right breast seems a little smaller. What we can't really see is the exact position of the breast fold on the right and left side. To manage you asymmetry additional surgery should make things better but releasing the inferior aspect of your right breast. It may not give you complete symmetry but should make things better. It is also possible that your right breast has always been much tighter and you do not have sufficient... more

Martin Jugenburg, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

www.torontosurgery.ca

Breast asymmetry can be corrected with revision breast augmentation.

Hi. From your pictures, I don't see why a revision will not make things a lot better. The right implant needs to come down. Also the nipples can be improved. see video

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Right implant should be lowered

Dear Bren, although your breasts were quite asymmetrical to start with (your R breast being smaller than the L, and seemingly a bit higher set also), this situation is created by too high a position of the right implant. It is surgically quite simple to fix this by extending the pocket downward.

Alexis Verpaele, MD
Belgium Plastic Surgeon

Breast asymmetry following lift and implants

Few issues are important to understand: 1. No one has perfectly symmetrical breasts - before or after surgery. 2. You had some slight asymmetry before surgery. You have some noticeable but mild asymmetry now. 3. 4 months is still somewhat early and I would expect some more settling down and dropping of the implants to take place. 4. If you go for a revision of pocket, you have to accept the risk of any complications from this 2nd surgery. On balance, I would suggest that... more